Thursday, February 25, 2016

Nkrumah’s Overthrow Regrettable

By ASP James Annan

The first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah, was unconstitutionally ousted from office through a military and
police coup d’état on February 24, 1966. This year marks exactly 50years since
the Convention People’s Party (CPP) government was overthrown.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

According to declassified documents from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
in 1999, the then US
government had been trying to influence some people to overthrow President
Nkrumah since 1964.

Apparently, Dr. Nkrumah was seen as an ally of the then Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the ‘Cold War’. But the
pan-Africanist leader declared his stance and made the famous statement, “We
neither face East nor West; we face forward”.

On February 21, 1966, President Nkrumah left Ghana
for Hanoi, the
Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, at the invitation of President Ho Chi
Minh to resolve the Vietnam War. Ghana was left under the control of
a three-man Presidential Commission.

Consequently, the CIA backed-coup in Ghana
was carried out at the dawn of February 24, 1966, while Nkrumah was still on
peace mission in Asia.

Among the key figures who staged the revolution were Col. E.K. Kotoka, Major
A.A. Afrifa, and the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. J.W.K. Harley.

The famous coup-makers cited Nkrumah’s Preventive Detection Act, corruption,
dictatorial practices, oppression, and the deteriorating economy of Ghana as the
principal reasons for the uprising.

*Coup leader, Col. Kotoka

In the early hours of 24th February, 1966, Col. Kotoka announced on the state
radio that, “Kwame Nkrumah is overthrown, and the myth surrounding him is
broken”.

Let me ask the burning question. How did the overthrow of Nkrumah contribute
towards national development? Did the country’s fortunes improve after
Nkrumah’s government was toppled? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

Regrettably, the long term goals, policies, and vision of Kwame Nkrumah became
a mirage, to say the least. Many Ghanaians took to the street and jubilated
over the first infamous revolution which forced Dr. Nkrumah into political
asylum until his death in the 70s.

Like every human, Nkrumah had his strengths, weaknesses, achievements, failure
or downfall.

For instance, the one-party state Nkrumah created in the CPP, the declaration
of ‘Presidency for Life’ by Osagyefo, and the imprisonment of his opposition
without trial were quite unfortunate.

Meanwhile, some political analysts and historians have justified the Preventive
Detention Act (PDA) which was passed into law in 1958. The Act empowered
Nkrumah to imprison his ‘enemies’ (opponents) without trial for up to 5years
(later extended to10 years).

The PDA was described as a necessary evil because of the spate of bomb attacks
and assassination attempts on Osagyefo’s life. Besides, the best way to defend
is to attack. There were at least seven attempts to assassinate him during his
presidency.

Today, there is a paradigm shift in our history. Kwame Nkrumah, who was once
vilified by his own people following the 1966 coup, is now credited for
exemplary leadership in Ghana
and Africa as a whole.

The achievements of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah distinguished him among his
contemporaries on the Continent. His ideology for pan-Africanism, Africa liberation, and self-governance also earned him an
enviable reputation worldwide.

Following his indelible legacy on the Continent, Nkrumah was adjudged Africa’s greatest “Man of the Millennium” in 2000. His
social policies and style of leadership were impeccable.

It is unfortunate to admit that successive administrations have, over the
years, abandoned most of the projects and policies of Osagyefo. Poor
maintenance culture in particular has been the bane of this country.

He is fondly remembered for the improved roads, schools, hospitals, factories,
the Akosombo Dam, the Tema Harbour and the economic stability, just to mention
a few.

The former Chairperson of the CPP, Samia Nkrumah, hit the nail right on the
head when she attributed the country’s economic woes to the overthrow of her
father, President Kwame Nkrumah.

Even though Dr. Nkrumah’s economic and social policies were undeniably the
best, his opponents made every effort to discredit him. Undoubtedly, he is so
far the best President Ghana and even Africa
has ever had.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah demonstrated patriotism and eschewed parochialism as a
visionary leader. Let’s mourn him for his exceptional leadership which was
wrongfully deposed 50years ago.

It is not surprising that in June 2009, the late President JEA Mills
commissioned the Nkrumah Centenary Celebration Planning Committee to organise a
befitting ceremony on Nkrumah’s 100th birthday.

Let’s draw inspiration from the achievements, ideology, and vision of the great
man who led Ghana
to independence from British colonial rule for the purpose of nation building.

Following the overthrow of the CPP administration, Dr. Nkrumah sought political
exile in Conakry
with his Guinean counterpart, President Ahmed Sekou Toure. He was appointed
Co-President of Guinea until his death on 27th April, 1972. He died at the age
of 63.

“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and
act as men of thought”, Kwame Nkrumah.